Алая буква
Another View of Hester
Asafirststep,thewholesystemofsocietyistobetorndownandbuiltupanew.Thentheverynatureoftheoppositesex,oritslonghereditaryhabit,whichhasbecomelikenature,istobeessentiallymodifiedbeforewomancanbeallowedtoassumewhatseemsafairandsuitableposition.Finally,allotherdifficultiesbeingobviated,womancannottakeadvantageofthesepreliminaryreformsuntilsheherselfshallhaveundergoneastillmightierchange,inwhich,perhaps,theetherealessence,whereinshehashertruestlife,willbefoundtohaveevaporated.Awomanneverovercomestheseproblemsbyanyexerciseofthought.Theyarenottobesolved,oronlyinoneway.Ifherheartchancetocomeuppermost,theyvanish.ThusHesterPrynne,whosehearthadlostitsregularandhealthythrob,wanderedwithoutaclueinthedarklabyrinthofmind;nowturnedasidebyaninsurmountableprecipice;nowstartingbackfromadeepchasm.Therewaswildandghastlysceneryallaroundher,andahomeandcomfortnowhere.Attimesafearfuldoubtstrovetopossesshersoul,whetheritwerenotbettertosendPearlatoncetoHeaven,andgoherselftosuchfuturityasEternalJusticeshouldprovide.
Thescarletletterhadnotdoneitsoffice.Now,however,herinterviewwiththeReverendMr.Dimmesdale,onthenightofhisvigil,hadgivenheranewthemeofreflection,andhelduptoheranobjectthatappearedworthyofanyexertionandsacrificeforitsattainment.
